lucyA1308

as a freelance musician and music teacher, I am also very impressed by Suniil's daughter. That amount of practice has clearly paid off. It doesn't have to be that much, but there does need to be encouragement at home to keep up with the practice. I start all my pupils off from the same beginning, and it is very easy to spot the ones who do the practice and those who don't. What ever age you are when you start, it has to be the right combination of hard work and fun. The more you put into it, the more fun you will get out of it.

Dear MusicoSouth. Thank you. It sounds like the front facing seat seems to be the answer in most cases. Thanks for your honest but reasuring response. Also good to know that although it was probably a nightmare, you all survived the trip to cornwall. I haven't yet managed more than 30 mins in the car, but my mum is wondering when I will be able to visit her - a 3 hour drive away.

Mumtobesoon - thank you. My baby is 2 1/2 months. I am also trying to just get her used to it by submission, but it is so hard, when I know she hates it. We never go very far, and if I can do public transport, then I do, but some journeys I can't do on public transport and I sort of think that if we avoid the car altogether, she will never get used to it. i do remember that when my first child was born, we were able to have one adult in the back with her when ever we could, and especially on long journeys. I imagine that she then just got used to it, and realised that it wasn't so bad. We can;'t do this now with 2 car seats in the back, there isn't room for any extra adult. Womanofdulwich - nice thought.

Hello there. Has anyone else experienced earpiercing car journeys with their little ones? My older daughter loved the car, and it was often (and sometimes still) the only time I could get her to nap. My little one (2 months) has hated the car since about 3 weeks old. People have given me lots of advice, like putting pictures of me and my husband on the back seat for her to look at, giving her distraction toys or playing the car radio. We can't hear the car radio above the noise so that doesn't work. I have got one distraction toy, wuhich works for a little while. It is a toy with a morror which hangs down, and she does her best to enjoy that, but fairly soon the crying starts. I just wondered whether she gets car sickness, and if so, how will I know - she hasn't ever actually been sick in the car, just sends her self such a violent shade of red, it can't be good for her. I haven't yet attempted anything longer than a couple of miles, for her sake and mine. Other than this she is an incredibly placid and happy little girl, and never really makes a fuss about anything else. Any advice would be great. Thanks, Lucy

Dear Gina, Wow. you sound very brave. I couldn't have managed without going to groups. my older daughter has been very lively right from the beginning, always needed other childrens company. If you have done everything all on your own, you are a braver woman than me. We go to some nice groups which are small and friendly and welcoming. Small Saints on a Friday morning, at All Saints Church, West Dulwich. Grove Vale library on a Tuesday morning are my favourite ones. There are others, but these are the ones where I have been able to chat to mums, know that my daughter is safe, if I need to stop to BF my little baby, and where she has got something good from the morning. hope you sort something out. There is a whole world out there waiting for you and your daughter to discover.

Yes, i have seen about the ones which take place once a month in Dulwich Village, and would made sure I didn't clash with that. There will be people who can't get to those, but in any case, I would try to make sure that they dove tailed in with each other. i am glad that responses have been positive so far. it gives me encouragement. I'll let you all know.

Would you be interested in taking your baby / toddler / young child to informal classical concerts, designed specifically for parent / carer and children? Concerts like this take place all over london, and charge from ?8-10 for a 45 min concert, and refreshments. If these concerts took place once a month, would this be something you would be interested in taking your little ones to, and would this be a suitable price per concert. All concerts would be given by highly experienced classical musicians, and presented well to appeal to all ages attending the concerts. Please give any feed back. Thank you. Lucy

Cards are nice. We sent out cards - as well as the social media networks. Any remaining can be used for thank you cards, and also for later birthday party invitations etc.

does anyone have a child at Cator Park montessori school? Please can you give me comments, or feed back. It seems the best pre-school in my area, and suits our needs best as well, but I still have some niggling issues. Any comments here would be useful. Many thanks, Lucy